Archive for month: July 2014

So there comes a time in every child’s life when they want independence from their parents. For our family it came today at breakfast. It’s a big step for a 3 year old to want to distance themselves from their parents. It’s an even bigger step for parents to actually let them. However, it becomes a bit easier when your child wants to sit at the world’s smallest picnic table.

I am sorta kidding about the whole independence thing but it is amazing how fast children grow up. It’s kind of like how God gives us space but we know we can always come back to Him. We want more than anything to become the kind of parents that raise a daughter that will always come back. Like when the food gets delivered to the grown-ups table.

Our family loves games! This weekend I taught a friend how to play the dice game, Farkle and forgot how fun (and easy) it was. I grew up playing a version of this game with my family and it always brings back happy memories when I play.

All you need are 6 dice and paper for scoring. And you can play just about anywhere! Click here for the official rules to Farkle. It is almost so easy, a 3 year old could play. But not quite. We have begun practicing but we still have to learn how to add 3-digit numbers.

It’s hot. 79 degrees hot. So why does the toddler insist on sleeping in long pants and under two blankets? I can’t even go in to kiss her goodnight because all I want to do is turn on her fan (which she hates!) The puddles of sweat are seriously pooling under her pillow. I am so tempted to “very carefully” cut her long pants pjs off with scissors while she sleeps. Doesn’t she know that she’s dripping wet? It’s so hot! But I let it go… and strategically devise a better, much safer plan.

I used to think that I could turn on the fan after she falls asleep, but lately she has caught on. She learned that if she unplugs it and boobietraps her room by carefully placing squeaky stuffed animals near the outlet, she can alert herself and literally scare me half to death when I sneak in. Well played.

So what do you do when it’s so hot? Pretend like it’s not. At least that is what we intended to do today. I gave her $5 and told her she could spend it on anything she wanted as long as it was the opposite of hot. So off to the Goodwill we went.

Oh how I love to shop! Especially when it’s hot. They have air conditioning and we do not. Here is our loot. One book = snow. One movie = ice. And a piggy bank = so stinkin’ cute. I let it go because it was white, which is basically = to snow and she is learning about saving money so… why not? Remember, we learn to only pick battles we know we can win, especially when it’s hot. You don’t know “crazy” until you find yourself battling over a fan with a half sleeping, hot, sweaty toddler who insists on wearing long pants to bed.

Oh and I almost forgot the best part… in order to get to spend the $5 today, she had to donate her long pants pjs. Winning!!!

#1 – No matter what great ideas you have for saving or spending childcare $$$ during the summer months something not very great will always come up. Like a leaky water pipe under the deck. I know God will always take care of our finances. There will always be great ideas but some… just let them go.

#2 – If you let your 3 year old stay up 5 hours past their bed time (because it’s the 4th of July and your neighborhood sounds like the next WWIII) they will still wake up at their normal wake up time. A small child’s sleeping patterns will never be aligned to their parents, no matter how much you pray. Just let it go.

#3 – And most importantly, never underestimate the power of Disney. In case I didn’t know how to respond to the two situations (mentioned above) this week, I’ve had a 33 lb. “queen/princess” dancing around the house/yard/park/(insert location) while singing the chorus of “Let it go” over and over to remind me. And if you think you can teach a little girl how to whisper such lyrics quietly… you can’t. Again, just let it go.

Thank you God for sending me multiple signs this week that I am not in control. I guess I have no choice but to let it go.